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L. SGHMITT.

ADJUSTABLE SHELF SUPPORT.

No 397,251. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

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Nirn STATES PATENT rricn.

LOUTS SU'IIMTTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE SHELF-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent I-Io. 397,251, dated.February 5, 1889.

Application filed September 29, 1888. Serial No. 286,736. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS SGHMITT, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented anew and useful Improvement in AdjustableShelf-Supports; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a partof this specification, in which Figure l is a view in perspective of myimproved shelf-supporting device or bracket when constructed of wireFig. 2, a sectional view of a shelf supported by means of said device;Fig. 3, a transverse section in line our of Fig. 2; Fig. r, an elevationof the device inserted in a retaining-groove in the upright for thesupport of the shelf, the shelf being removed; and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the device when made solid.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, efficient,automatic adjustable device for the support of a shelf.

It consists, as represented in the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 5,of a metallic end supporting piece or bracket, A, formed with a lowermember, I), having sharp points or claws c projecting outwardly from itslower end, an upper member, (1, extending upwardly to form substantiallyan extension of the lower member, I), and a third member, 6, projectingabout midway between the extremities of the members (Z and b on the sideopposite that from which the claws c a project and at an angle more orless acute with the upper member, Z), as shown in the drawings. Thisautomatic, adjustable, and detachable supporting piece or bracket A maybe cast or forged in one solid piece, as shown in Fig. 5; but preferablyit :is made of a piece of wire doubled upon itself, as shown at f, Figs.1, 3, and 4:, to present two parallel lengths,which together form theupper member, d, and are then together bent outwardly and doubled backagain, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to form the central member, 6, and arefinally extended in substantially a right line with the member (1, butin the form of a reverse curve, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) so as to bringtheir two ends in position to project in the opposite direction from themember e in a plane parallel therewith, said ends being sharpened toform the points or claws c c, which are adapted to be readily forcedinto the surface of the upright F.

In the use of the device for the support of a shelf it ispreferablyinserted in a longitudinal slot or groove, \V, out verticallyin the face of the upright F, by which the shelf G is to be upheld, andwhich serves to conceal the bracketand to permit-the end of the shelf tocome against the face of the upright.

The two lengths of wire forming the brackct are sprung apart at theirlower pointed ends, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when inserted in theslot \V they will have a lateral elastic bearing against the sidesthereof suffi- -cient to automatically uphold and retain the bracket inthe slot before its claws are forced into the upright by the weight ofthe shelf.

This automatic lateral hold of the device within the slot enables it tobe moved up or down for adjustment without dropping out before it ismade to more firmly engage the upright by means of its claws. Theengagement of the claws c c with the upright F is enforced by thepressure or weight of the shelf G upon the outwardly-projecting member eof the bracket in connection with the confinement of the upper member,(Z, by the ends of the shelf, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of themember (Z of the bracket may be bent in the same direction as the clawsto form a projection, f, to bear against the face of the upright, sothat when the shelf is removed and it is desired to disengage thebracket the member 6 may be used as a lever, with the projection f asits fulcrum, to withdraw the claws from their hold upon the upright F.

It is evident that the greater the weight placed upon the shelf upheldby the bracket A in manner as described the firmer will be the hold ofthe bracket upon the upright F, to which it is attached.

I claim as my invention 1. A shelf support or bracket formed,substantially as described, with an upper memher, as d, to bear againstthe end of the shelf, a second central member, as e, proj ecting fromthe first at an angle more or less acute to pass under the shelf, and athird lower member, as I), forming, substantially, an extension of thefirst, and terminating in sharp points projecting in adircction opposedto the second member to engage the standard provided for the support ofthe shelf. 7

2. The shclf-bracl et constructed of a wire doubled and closed uponitself to form one end of the bracket, and having its two free endspointed and bent at an angle with the length of the bracket to form itsopposite end, and its central portion bent outwardly in a loop toproject in a direction opposed to that of the pointed ends and at anangle inclined more or less toward its closed end, substan: tially inthe manner and forthe purpose herein set forth.

The shelf-bracket constructed of an upper member to bear against the endof the shelf, a central member projecting therefrom at an angle more orless acute to pass under the shell, and a lower member forming,substantially, an extension of the first, and consistingof two elasticlaterally-expandin arms terminating in sharp points projectingtherefromin a direction opposed to the central member of the bracket,substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Wlld'lGSSGS.

LOUIS SCI 1M l'l"l.

\Vitnesscs:

A. N. J ESBEHA, E. M. \YATSON.

